Poporanism

The word “poporanism” is derived from “popor”, meaning “people” in the Romanian language. The ideology of Romanian Populism and poporanism are interchangeable. Founded by Constantin Stere in the early 1890s, populism is distinguished by its opposition to socialism, promotion of voting rights for all, and intent to reform the parliament and farming system. Regarding Romania’s agrarian situation, poporanists wished to form cooperative farms for the peasants, intending to liberate them from aristocratic control. Unlike Junimism, another popular political philosophy, poporanism focused mainly on expanding the power of the peasants. In a very nationalist manner, Poporanism was also a champion of the Romanian language and maintaining the Romanian spirit.

Narodism and Constantin Dobrogeanu-Gherea

Constantin Dobrogeanu-Gherea, a Romanian political activist, first introduced the Russian ideas of Narodism to Romania and supported the ideas of Poporanism. The fundamental philosophy of Narodism had a lasting impact on Poporanism, spurring its rejection of capitalism and of Marxist ideas. However, unlike Narodists, Stere did not believe that a revolution was necessary in Romania. Later, Dobrogeanu-Gherea and Stere had a split of political philosophy in regards to anti-Semitism and liberalism, and Dobrogeanu-Gherea formed the Social-Democratic Worker’s Party, and Poporanists joined the National Liberal Party.

Today

Today in Romania, the Social-Democratic Worker’s Party is the most popular political group, with the National Liberal Party coming in second.